Apparatus for decorating pottery ware



Sept. 1 l, 1956 E. G. ARELT APPARATUS FOR DECORATING POTTERY WARE lO Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed OC'L. 3l A1951 EUGENE-@ARRET INVENTOR.

APPARATUS FOR DECORATING POTTERY WARE Filed Oct. 3l. 195] lO Sheets-Sheet 2 was EUGENE-G -ARELT F INVENTOR.

J Wwf Attorneys.

Sept. 11, 1956 E. G. ARELT 2,762,329

APPARATUS PoR DECORATING POTTERY WARE Filed 001'.. 5l, 1951 lO Sheets-Sheet 5 -leo- EUGENE'G'AFZELT IN VEN TOR.

ber/h eys,

Sept. 11, 1956 E. G. ARI-:LT

APPARATUS FOR DECORATING POTTERY WARE 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 5l 195] Sept. 11, 1956 E. G. ARELT 2,752,329

APPARATUS TOR DECORATING POTTERY WARE Filed oct. 51. 1951 1o sheets-sheet 5 Attorneys,

Sept. 11, 1956 E. G. ARELT APPARATUS FOR DECORATING POTTERY WARE 1o sheets-sheet e Filed Oct. 5l. 1951 Sept. 11, 1956 E. G. ARELT APPARATUS FOR DECORATING POTTERY WARE l0 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Oct. 5l. 1951 EUGENE'GARELT INVENTOR.

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INVENTOR.

EUGENEG'ARELT ,4U om aya.

Sept. 11, 1956 E. G. ARELT APPARATUS FOR DECORATING POTTERY WARE l0 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Oct. 3l 1951 l0 Sheets-Sheet 9 IIHIHII EUGENEG'ARELT JNVENTOR E. G. ARELT Sept. 1l, 1956 APPARATUS FOR DECORATING POTTERY WARE Filed OCT.. 5l 195] sept. 11, 1956 E. G. ARELT 2,762,329

APPARATUS FOR DECORATING POTTERY WARE Filed Oct. 3l, 1951 10 Sheets-Sheet 10 (ST5-50W |90 '3551111011 B 214 2'6 2.2 1.1,( Lil! 2,5 213 u l Lrg; Lia] EUGENE'G'ARELT INVENTOR.

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United States Patent -1'1 Claims. (Cl. 118-2) This invention relates to apparatus for decorating or` ornamenting disklike articles of dinnerware, such as plates and saucers. The ornamentation consists in the application of circular bands of colored material.

The invention has as an object an apparatus of the.

type referred to embodying a structure by which the apparatus is particularly convenient to operate, particuf larly as to the insertion of undecorated ware, and the removal of decorated ware.

The invention has as a further object decorating apparatus embodying a series of ware centering and gripping chucks which function to automatically center and grip the piece of ware and to effect rotation thereof during the application of the decorative band.

The invention h-as as a further object a color applicator unit embodying a structural arrangement which functions to apply a band of uniform from defects to each piece of ware.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations a-nd constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had tothe accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an apparatus embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the apparatus with 4the front wall of the enclosing cabinet partially broken away.

Figure 3 is an end elevational view looking to the left, Figure l.

Figure 4 is a view taken online 4 4, Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a view taken on line 5 5, Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a view taken on line 6 6, 'Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a view taken on line 7 7, Figure 4.

Figure 8 is a view taken on line 8 8, Figu-re 4.

Figure 9 is a view taken on line 9 9, Figure 4.

Figure 10 is an enlarged elevational view of the color applicator unit as shown in the lower right portion of Figure 2.

Figure l1 is a view looking to the right of Figure 10.

Figure 12 is an enlarged elevational view of the color applicator head looking to the right of the upper portion of Figure 10.

Figure 13 is a view taken on line 13 13, Figure 12. Figure 14 is a top plan View of the applicator head structure shown in Figure 12.

Figure 15 is a view taken on line 15 15, Figure 13. Figure 16 is a view similar to Figure l2 but looking to the left in Figure 10. n

Figure 17 is a View taken on line 17 17, Figure 13. Figure 18 is a view taken on line 18 18, Figure 13. Figure 19 is a front elevational view of the head of the applicator unit shown at the left in Figure 2.

Figure 20 is -a view looking to the right, Figure 19, 'with parts broken away and parts in section.

Figure 21 is a rear elevational View of the structure shown in Figure 19.

width and free Tice Figure 22 is a top plan view of the structures shown in Figures 19, 20 and 21, with part-s broken away and parts in section.

Figure 23 is a side elevational view of one of the Ware detecting mechanisms.

Figure 24 is a view looking to the right, Figure 23.

Figure 25 is a plan View of the doctor blade for removing surplus material from the applicator wheel.

Figure 26 is a schematic wiring diagram of the electrical system.

The frame of the machine includes a pair of side rails y10, 11, and cross members 12, 13. These members are supported on legs 14. The frame ftuther includes a box shaped casting 15 secured to a plate 16 positioned on the cross memberV 13. The upper portion of the casting 15 is formed with a horizontally extending bore to receive anti-friction bearings 20 in which there is journalled a quill shaft 21, this shaft extending rearwardly and having fixedly keyed thereon a Geneva disk 22. The forward end of the shaft has fixedly secured thereto a disk 23. AY circular lmember 26 is lixed to the disk 23 and is formed with an annular flange 27 and bosses 28 eisten-ding inwardly from the flange 27 and formed with bores extending radially from the axis of the shaft 21. There is journalled in the bore of each boss 28 a shaft 29. A collar 30 is slidably mounted on the inner end of each of the shafts 29 and is rotatably xed thereon by a key 31, see Figures 4 and 7. The collars 30 are provided with grooves 32 on their periphery to receive pins 34 carried by a yoke member 35 pivot'ally mounted at its forward end on pin 36 carried by a bracket 37,

whereby the yoke 35 is operable upon movement about the pivot pin 36 to move the collar 30 axially on the shaft 29.

A bearing block 38 is afxed to the disk 26 in registration with each of the bosses 28 and each of the blocks 38 has journalled in it a stud shaft 39, the inner end of which is provided with a gear 40 meshing with a ring gear 41. The outer ends of the stud shafts 39 are provi-ded with disks 42 arranged in registration with the collars 30. The confronting surfaces of the collars 30 and disks 42 are provided with friction members and likewise, the confronting face of each collar 30 and the boss 28 are provided with friction members.v The ring gear 41 is mounted on the stud end of a shaft 44 rotatably mounted lin the `quill shaft 21, the rear end of which extends beyond the rear end of the quill shaft and has axed to it a spur gear 45.

Tension springs 47, see Figures 8 and 9, are secured at like ends to the sides of the yloke 35 and at' their `opposite ends to pins 48 projecting from the circular I member 26. The springs 47 function to urge the yokes inward-ly towards the shaft 44, the collars 30 and the disks 42 withstheir friction faces serving as clutches to connect the stud shafts 39 with the `shafts 29.

The Geneva disk 22 is actuated by a crank member 50 having a roller 51 for movement into and out of slots 52 in the disks 22, there being four of these slots correspondin-g to the-four shafts 29. The crank 50 is secured to a shaft 53, the forward end of which is journalled in a bearing 54 carried by the casting 15, the rear end of the shaft 53 being mounted in a bearing 56 carried by a plate 58 mounted on the rear cross member 12, s ee Figure 1.

The gear 45 on the shaft 44 is arranged in mesh with i av gear 57 moun-ted on the shaft 53 and having the sameA quill shaft 21.

There is mounted on the Y*outer end of each of the shafts 29 Va chuck which functions to automatically cen'- ter and grip pieces of dinnerware, such as plates, indicatedby dotted outline at 62. These chucks consist of an actuating member 63 journalled on vthe outer vends of the shaft 29, as 'by yantifriction bearings 64, seelFigure The lactuating members 63 are of substantially. circular formation and have an outwardly daring flange 6.5,. The bearings 64Y are seated against a spur gear 66 secured to thefshaft 29 as by.` pin 67, There are journalled in each of the members 63a plurality of 'shafts 68 extendingparallelto the shaft 29.v Theres aflixed to the vinner end of each of the shafts 68 a gear 79,. all *ofthe* gears 70, meshing withthepgear. 6 6. Thereis an Va r1:t 1 .7' 1 s'ecurcd tothe rnite'eril'otK4 eachofA-theshafts 68rand each of thearrns371is provided atitszfree end witha pin` 72.extend ins outwardly from thehuck. v v L circular, waresupponting plate.73 isatlixed tov the @metida member 63. s. sv by' screws 74.` vThis plat@Y iS formed with .slots` 75 extending radially inwardly from the periphery of the plate to receive the pins 72 whennthey areAY motedlinwardly toward theaxis kof thev shaft 2.9. Eachof-fthegears 70 is provided with af pin 77 extending inwardlyvv toward the shaft 44. A tension spring 78, is connected to the pins 77 on each pair of adjacent gears, =t`he .pins77being so positioned on the gears y70 that the gears/are yieldingly rotated in a direction to ro-tatethe shafts' andarms 71to move thepins 72.into theslots 75of-platef73r. It will beapparent that the gear 66 servesas a 'sungean and the gears 7011splanetyears. Accordingly, ifthe'gejar 66 vis restrained, against rotation, movement ofthe acuating body member63 in a clockwise direction, Figure .5, Ithe pins 72'v will be caused to move radiallyoutwardly' from the shaft 29. l Y d From thedescrption thus far, it wil'labe apparent that the membersfZS, 26, constitute a .turret on which there are journalled four ware gripping chucks, the turret be ing,intermittentlyA rotated about a horizontal axis.v

Referringyto .Figures 1, 2 and 3, the Geneva drive .is so arrangedthat during thedweli of the indexing movef ment,- a chuck is positioned upwardly, or at the top of the turret, as indicated at A, and with the oppositely dis' fscd chuckv positioned,downwardly, thethird chuck pos voiledh'orizoi'itally `at B, and the fourth chuck at C.l Theposition A is Yreferredto as the. loading *.and `unloading tation., rThe',positions Bla and Care A.re'ferned to fasi decorating stations? VT he'chucks are Vrotated continuously/ v during their'niovernent bythe turret top and from .the

loadingv` andunloading stationA. However, while. each chuck is :positioned atnstation A, it is res-trained against.

rotation. n

Referring. to isuresftanii A9.. there i lis-mounted on thevfraniefmemberls, a carriblock 80 whichfisengaged,

by-Larollergl'carriedat theinner or free .end of ,each

and continuing until aslight advancement of-thechuk trnthefstatoh.-

ing actionon shaft 29, as hereinafter explained. Accordingly, when a chuck approaches the loadingand unloading station, the collar 30 vis moved upwardly out of engagement withthe driving disk 42 and into engage-- ment with the confronting surface of the boss 28. As will Vbca-apparent, this functions to disconnect the shaft-'29' from the associated shaft'39 and'to apply a brakingacofthe yokesf35. Thisfend ofthe yokeextends through 55 anopeningS2 lformed in the mem-ber 26,. The engagementfbylthe /roller 81; taking place just prior to thegan. rival of the. chuckfat the Yloading land unloading station l .A piston and cylinders'tructureismounted onthe inner surface of a plate 89 carried by-'uprights 91)'V extending upwardly from plates 91, 92, mounted 'on the forward Vportion of the side; rails 1,0, 11, Figures, l, 2 ,and 4. The piston rod 93 of this unit extends vertically upwardly and is provided-witha member 94, to the upper end of which there is secured a rubber block 95. The arrangement is such, upon the admission of uid in the bottomof the unit through the conduit I9 6, therub- :ber block 95, is moved upwardly into engagcmcrttrwith Ithe ilange of theactuatingmember, thisroperation;

taking piace substantially simultaneously with the engagementofthe roller 811011 the cam block 80. Accordiiigly,with the gear restrained against rotation; contnued; movement o f the turret with 'theA block 95,in engagement with thefiiange` 65, J.will cau-se a slight rotation of the member 63 suicient to swing the arms ,71 and pinsy 72outwardlyl to the position .ish-own in Figuresl and 3.

The pie'ef of ware may beY then removed from therchuck` and4 alpiece of Aundecorated ware placed 1 onV the chuck.

The .iluidis then exhausted'throughthe con-duit96 and fluid is applied to the upperend of the cylinder-through the conduit-98, moving the block 95 downwardly and out of .engagement with the Yflange65 ofthe chuck. Fl'ihis permitsthe spring 78-tovmovethepins 72 inwardly to. center, The pins 72 .are provided with and grip the plate 62. fubberslsva 9,9

Athe beginning of the succeeding indexing movelment of the turret, the roller 81 passes oli from the cam 8,0,fpermittingthefcollart) to-engage the .driving plate 42d, andcontinuous.rotationfisthen imparted-to the chuck and thepiece of :Warecarried thereby.

Upon-thearrival of the-chuck ,at station:B,.an applicator is moved into engagement with the:piece.-of'rotat.

inggwarecausing aband ofeoloredy decorating material tome-applied. to` thel ware: This band n is.;applied` by s a decorating unit best shown in Figures 10 to,.22, these units ,consisting of-a-base platejtw having vaixedat one end thereof a bifurcated bracket between the armsltll, 102, on whichthjere-zis .journalleda rnembenlthavng a depending .pertion104 and .-adepending pin 165'.. An arm 106 isattachedtogthernember;103; asiby screws 107. The ,arm 10.6"has detachablyV secured to wits 1 upper end an applicator head, designated; generally atglS.

There is, onmaybevpositionedlangyapplicatorfhead at stations vB and-C.I The :detail structural arrangement of the applicator..V head arranged s, at. station B l isshown- :sin

-Figures` l2 to 18, and consists of a body member-1110.

Flfhe lowerspprtionof Vthebody is provided with a tapped aper-turelli toreceive a screw 112. for attachingathe head tothe. arm 106, This -lower portion `is -also f formed witha rectangular opening 113 to receive -.a-boss-114:

extendingdaterallyz-from a wellllS containing Aa supply Y ofliciuid,,decoratingmaterial. This-.material is vapplied to the ware-by an applicator roll 1&6tdetachablygmounted on agshaftl- 1,17 journalled sin antifriction bearingg 1.13 positionedfin a; boss 119,extending from one sideof the body 110. The opposite side of the `body is e formed with amopeningof substantial dimension .which is closed a plate-12'('attachedtothe body by screws 121.y The roll ;1'1`61is.positioned against a icollar 122 `by .a nut. i2?, threaded( onfthe rend Vvof. the. shaft ,117. v

`The .decorative.materialisfurnished Ito the Vapplicator roll 116`by afurnishingroll 125 threaded onto a shaft 126`journalled in th'fsbody'. '.Afspurg'ear'127. is fixed Vto the puter ena f the "sh-anus, 'and a .spar gear' '12s n aixedto the outer `end of the shaft-117. These gears are both arranged in mesh with a gear 130 aixed to a pulley 13,1 journalled on a stud 132 projecting from the side of the body 110.

Y The pulley 131 is rotated by a belt 133 also trained over a pulley 134 on the output shaft of a geared head motor 135 mounted on a bracket 136 associated with the leg 102 of the bifurcated supporting casting, see Figures and ll.

The arm 106 is yieldingly urged to move the' app1icator head 108 toward the turret by a coiled tension spring 140, one end of which is axed to the supporting bracket and the opposite end to the depending pin 105. The arm is moved about the pivot of member 103 to move the applicator head away from the turret by a cylinder and piston structure 141 mounted on the plate 100 and having its piston rod 142 engaging the depending arm 104. The motor 135 is of the series wound, universal type and is adjusted to continuously rotate the applicator wheel 116 and the furnishing wheel 125 so that the applicator wheel has a peripheral speed slightly below that at which it is driven upon its engagement with the pieces of ware rotated by the chucks. That is, the applicator wheel 116 is rotating in the same direction and at almost the same speed as the surface of the piece of ware with which it is moved into engagement. This prevents the formation of a heavy line, or band, on the piece of ware upon initial contact of the applicator wheel, which would be the case if the applicator wheel were not rotated. With this arrangement, the piece of ware slightly increases the speed of the applicator wheel, but the wheel has no drag placed upon it by the motor 135 because with this type of motor, the motor will instantly speed up upon the lessening of the load on it so that the applicator wheel is rotated partly by the piece of ware and partly by the motor.

The applicator roll and the furnishing roll are initially dimensioned so that there is a slight space of a few thousandths of an inch between the periphery of the two rolls. This spacing serves to prevent wear on the furnishing roll when using abrasive decorating material. The amount of material furnished to the applicator roll is slightly in excess of that needed to produce the desired decorative band. A doctor blade 145 is provided to remove the excess material from the applicator roll. This blade is attached to an arm 146 pivotally mounted onthe inner end of a screw 147 threaded through the side of the body and secured in adjusted position by a jam nut 143. The inner end of the screw 147 is of reduced diameter and the arm 146 is restrained against axial movement on the screw by a snap ring 150. The

doctor blade 145 is formed with a slot 151 slightly wider than the width of the applicator roll, see Figure 25.V That is, the doctor blade is bifurcated at one end andl that end portion is mounted about the periphery of theA The function of the screw-147 is to applicator roll. permit adjustment of the doctor blade parallel to the axis .of the applicator roll shaft 117.

It will be apparent that'the thickness of the applicator roll, or the Width of its peripheral edge is complemental to the width of the decorative band applied to the surface ofthe ware. However, the exact width of the decorative bandis determined by the width of the slot 151l .-in the doctor blade, this slot functioning -to doctor the sides of the applicator wheel as well as the peripheral edge thereof. The blade is adjusted axially of the wheel so a uniform thickness of material is left on each side of the wheel as well as on the face thereof. This causes the band to be applied uniform in width and with its side edges clear and sharp. A change of applicatorrolls necessitates a change of doctor blades and by the screw 147, the blade may be moved in proper alinement with the roll so that the peripheral edge and sides thereof may operate in the slot 151 to effect the desired result. r

soy

The doctor vblade is moved toward and from the applicator roll to determine the thickness of the layer of material on the roll, removing or wiping off the excessand permitting it to fall in lthe well 115. This adjustment of the doctor blade is accomplished by the manipulation of screws 154, 155, both of which thread through the rear wall of the body, the screw 154 engaging the arm 146 above the pivot 147, and the screw 155 engaging the arm below the pivot. It will be apparent that by the adjustment of these screws, the lower end of the arm with the doctor blade can be moved toward and from the roll 116 and secured in adjusted position.

An applicator unit may be mounted at both of the stations'B and C. In order to utilize a large number of component parts in both units, it is necessary to somewhat modify the applicator head for use at station C. The structure of this head is better disclosed in Figures 19 to 22 inclusive of the drawings. In this structure, the well is formed with a boss positioned in a slot 161 extending vertically upwardly from the lower end of the body and is maintained in place by a screw 162. The applicator roll 116 and the furnishing roll 125 are rotated by a belt t-r-ained over pulleys 165, `'166. The

pulley '166 is associated with a pulley 167 correspondingof the motor 135 associated with the unit. The motordrive 135, the piston and cylinder structure 141, basev plate 100, and the supporting bracket, are the same foi the units at both stations B and C. The base plate 100 is `detachably mounted on the plates 91 or 92 by a C clamp 171. This permits the unit to be universally adjusted to effect application of the decorative band on the desired portion of the piece of ware regardless of the size of the piece of ware, or the angularity of the brim of the ware.

In the head structure for the unit at station C, the doctor blade 175, similar to the blade 145, is mounted on an arm 176 pivoted at 177. The rear end of the arm is adjusted by screws 178, 179, to effect movement.

20, as shown by the arrow 180.

A table is mounted upon the uprights 90, as shown in Figures l, 4 and 2, and extends transversely across'the front of the machine, and the turret is provided with a circular sheet metal cover 191 attached to the face thereof. The operator places a piece of ware on the plate 73 of the chuck positioned upwardly at station A. Closing a switch 192-connects the machine to the power supply L1, L2. Closing the switch 193 furnishes power to the main drive motor 61, as will be apparent in Figure 26. Closing switch 189 completes the circuit to the applicator drive motor 135 at station B through lthe adjustable resistor 194. Closing switch 195 completes the circuit to the applicator motor 135 at station C through the variable resistor 196.

The cylinder and piston structure 88, see Figures 1 and,

4, is controlled by valve 197 actuated by a cam 198 aiiixed tothe vrear end of the shaft 44. This cam functions to actuate the valve 197 to supply fluid to the top side ofthe piston through conduit 199 just previous to the indexing movement of the turret. The turret is indexed to move the chuck with the piece of ware thereon to station B, the chuck, at this time, rotating a piece of ware, as previously described. u

During the dwell of the turret with the chuck at station B, fluid is supplied to the inner end of the cylinder 141 through conduit 200 controlled by a solenoid actuated valve 201 when energized by a switch 202 controlled by a cam 203 mounted on the rear end of the shaft 53, see Figure l. This causes the plunger 142 to move outwardly and to permit the arm 106 to be moved inwardly toward the turret by .the spring 140, moving the applicatorroll 115 into engagement* with a piece-of ware and effecting the .application .of the decorative .band thereto.

Referring to the diagram, Figure 26, power is supplied to the, solenoid operated valve 201 through switches 206, 202, .and .a switch 288. This switch S -is mounted on the frame of the machine at the top of the frame Vcasting 15, the switch being .mounted .on a plate 209 in which there is journalled a shaft 210, see Figures 23 and 24. This shaft has afxed to one end thereof `a feeler rod 211 which, at the station B, extends downward. An arm is ailxed to the opposite `end of the shaft 210, Figures 23, 24, and extends outwardly from opposite sides of the shaft. The portion 212 of the arm carries a pin 213 engaging the actuating member 214 of the switch 20S and this portion of the arm isacted upon by a spring 215 to -yieldingly urge the pin 213 against the switch actuator 214 to open the contacts of the switch. The portion 216 of lthe arm is operatively connected to a plunger 217 of -solenoid 218 by a linkage 219.

When the solenoid 218 is energized,ithe portion 216 ofV the arm is moved to effect rotation of the shaft 210 to move the feeler rod 211 to a position Where it will not be contacted by the pins 72 on the chuck during rotation or indexing of same, see position `I, 'Figure 23. `In this position of the feeler, indexing of the turret and chuck occurs. As the dwell period of the indexing of the turret and chuck approaches, solenoid 218 is de-energized permitting spring 215 to rotate shaft 210, thereby moving feeler 211 clockwise soit may detect the position of pins 72 of the chuck. If there is no ware in the chuck, pins 72 will be positioned in the bottom of the slot 75 of plate 73, see Figure 5, and feeler 211 will be rotated by spring 215 suiciently to cause pin 213 to contact plunger 214 and open switch 208. This position of the feeler is shown in full lines in Figure 23 and is marked NW, and pins 72 are shown as 721. Gpening of switch 298 prevents circuit containing solenoid 201 from being completed by cam 293 and switch 202, see Figures l and 26, thereby preventing iluid application to the inner end of cylinder 141, as previously described. If there is ware in the chuck, pins 72 will be displaced outwardly from the bottom of slots '75 in plate 73 a suiicient amount depending on the diameter of the ware so that they contact feeler 211 as they rotate, preventing the full clockwise movement of shaft 210 and feeler 211, thereby preventing pin 213 from opening switch 298, see Figure 23. This position of the feeler is shown dotted as position W in Figure 23. It is apparent then that solenoid air valve 201 can then be opened by cams 203 and Vswitch 202, thereby introducing air into the inner end of cylinder 141, retracting plunger 142 and allowing spring 140 to move applicator head into contact with the ware in the chuck. This action is timed to occur at the completion of the turret indexing movement. Solenoid 21S is energized and de-energized by switch 225 actuated by cam 226 `mounted on shaft 53. This cam is proportioned and adjusted to close the contacts'of switch 225 at completion of the dwell period of the turret, as before described. As shown in Figure26, solenoid 218' isalso operated by cam 226 and switch 225, and functions similarly for applicator and ware detector at station C of turret. Accordingly, as the chuck arrives at station B, the solenoid 218 is'energized to move the feeler rod 211 toward the axisl of the chuck in order to contact the pins 72 and detect the presence, or absence, of a piece of ware in the chuck.

A detector switch 230 having a feeler rod 231 is mounted in juxtaposition to the chuck at station C and functions in the samernanner as the detector switch 208 at station B. The detector switch 230 anda switch 232, controlled by a cam 233, controls the circuit to a solenoid valve 235. which, in turn, controls the flow of uid to the cylinder 141 at station C. The switch 232, cam 233 and solenoid operated' valve235 are employedin con- 8 junction with the detector switch 230 to provideindividual-ware detection for station C.

. As previously stated, there may only be a bandapplicator unit used at station B if it is desired -to decorate the ware with `only one band, or the one band decoration may be applied by a decorating unit arranged .at station C.

If an applicator unit is arranged at station A and one arranged at station C, the two bands of decorative material may be applied anywhere on the faceof the ware and even in close proximity to each other. Also, two applicator units may be arranged at station B and two additional units at station C for the application of four bands. it will beapparent that when a plurality of applicator yunits` are used, cach may apply a dierent colored material.

The ,cams,203, 233, are proportioned to eiect movement of the applicator head inwardly to apply thedecorative band to the piece of ware, and' then outwardly during the dwell of the turret and before the next Iindexing movement. As the turret is successively indexed and the chucks advanced from station C, as it approaches station A, the cam 198 will actuate the solenoid valve 197 supplying iiuid to the lower end of the cylinder 88, through conduit 240, moving the block into engagement 'with the iiange 65 of the chuck, and further `rotation -of the turret to bring the chuck completely at station- A will elect outwardv radial movement of the pin 72, as previously explained, whereupon the operator can remove Athe piece of decorated `ware and position apiece of undecorated ware on the chuck.

The structural arrangement is particularly advantageous in that Vlit is only necessary for the operator to position the piece of ware on the plate 73 of the chuck in theuppermost position at station A. From thereon, the application of thedecorative band is entirely automatic, the chucks functioning to effectively grip the piece of ware varying in diameter over a large range, :whereby thema chine will accommodate .dinnerware of various sizes from a dinner platev down to a small piece of ware.

An important advantage resides in the fact that theware centering and gripping chucks are positioned vertically at the loading and unloading station. This permits the apparatus to be interconnected with automatic Ware handling mechanism for removing the decorated ware and depositing undecorated ware on-the chuck at the loading and unloading station.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for applying rdecorative bands to I`disklike articles of dinnerware comprising al frame, a turret journalled in the frame, a plurality of vWare centering and' gripping chucks carried by the turret, motion transmitting means operable to effect intermittent rotation ofthe turret to advance said chuckssuccessively from a loading andY unloading station to a decorating station and thence to the loading and unloading station, each of said chucks'including an annular series of pins movable into and out ofl ware gripping position, an applicator arranged at-said decorating station and operable to apply ar decorative band to apiece of ware carried by a chuck positionedr at said station, means operable to effect rotation of said chucks when positioned at said decorating station, means operable to restrain rotation of said chucks and to move said pinsout of ware engaging position as each chuck arrives at said loading and unloadingstation, and means yieldingly moving said pins into ware gripping relation upon advancement of each chuck from said loading and unloading station.

2. Apparatus for applying decorative bands to 'disklike articles of dinnerware comprising a frame, a turret journalled in the frame, a plurality of Vware centering `and gripping chucks carried by the turret, motion transmitting means operable to effect intermittent rotation of the turretto advance said chucks successively from .aV

mitting means operable to etect rotation of said chucks,`

9 while the same are positioned at said decorating station, a band applicator arranged at said decorating station and being movable toward the turret into engagement with a piece of ware carried by a chuck at said decorating station, a feeler member movable into engagementwith a and gripping chucks carried by the turret, motion trans-v mitting means operable to eiect intermittent rotation of the turret to advance said chucks successively from a loading and unloading station to a decorating station and thence to the loading and unloading station, means operable to effect rotation of said chucks while positioned at said decorating station and to restrain rotation of said chucks at said loading and unloading station, each of said chucks including an annular series of ware gripping members movable into and out of Ware gripping relation, and means operable to move said gripping members out of ware gripping relation upon the arrival of each chuck at said loading and unloading station, and to eiect movement of said gripping members into ware engaging relation upon the advancement of each chuck from said load ing and unloading station.

4. Apparatus for applying decorative bands to disklike articles of dinnerware comprising a frame, a turret journalled in the frame for rotation about a horizontal axis, a plurality of ware centering and gripping chucks carried by the turret, each of said chucks being mounted on the turret for rotation about an axis extending radially from the axis of the turret, motion transmitting means operable to effect intermittent rotation of the turret to move said chucks successively from a loading and unloading station to an applicator station, and thence to the loading and unloading station, chuck driving means operable to effect rotation of said chucks, a disconnect means associated with each of said chucks, means located in proximity to said loading and unloading station cooperable with said disconnect means to disconnect the chucks from said chuck driving means prior to the arrival of the chucks at said station, and to connect said chucks with said chuck driving means upon advancement of chucks from said station, and an applicator arranged at said applicator station and being operable to apply a band on a piece of ware carried by a chuck positioned at said applicator station.

5. Apparatus for applying decorative bands to disklike articles of dinnerware comprising a frame, a turret journalled in the frame for rotation about a horizontal axis, a plurality of ware centering and gripping chucks carried by the turret, each of said chucks being mounted on the turret for rotation about an axis extending radially from the axis of the turret, motion transmitting means operable to effect intermittent rotation 'of the turret to advance said chucks successively from a loading and unloading station to an applicator station and thence to -the loading and unloading station, each of said chucks having an annular series of ware gripping members movable into and out of ware gripping relation, chuck driving means opercooperable to disconnect said chucks from said chuck driving means just prior to the arrival of the chucks at able to effect rotation of said chucks, means located in proximity Ito the loading and unloading station and being said loading and unloading station, and to move said gripping members out of ware gripping relation and, upon advancement of the chucks from said station to effect movement of said ware gripping members into ware gripping relation and to connect said chucks to said chuck driving means.

' 6. Apparatus for applying decorated bands toy disklike.V

articles of dinnerware comprising a frame, a turret journalled in the frame, a plurality of ware centering and gripping chucks journalled on the turret, motiontrans-l mitting means operable to effect intermittent rotation rof the turret to advance said chucks successively from a;

loading and unloading station to a decorating station and thence to the loading and unloading station, means oper-v able to eiect rotation of said chucks, a decorative-band radially inwardly to grip a piece of ware, brake means operable to restrain rotation of each chuck at said loading and unloading station, and means cooperable upon'thefA application of said brake to move said pins radially outwardly for the release of a piece of decorated ware.

7. Apparatus for applying decorative bands to disklikearticles of dinnerware comprising a frame, a turret journalled in the frame, a plurality of ware centering and gripping chucks carried by the turret, motion transmitting means operable to intermittently rotate said turret'to'ad- Vance said chucks successively from a loading and unloading station to a decorating station and thence to the loading and unloading station, means operable to effect rotation of said chucks, and band applying mechanism arranged at said decorating station and operable to apply a band of color material to a piece of ware rotated by a chuck positioned at said station, each of said chucks being provided with an annular series of pins, means operable as each of said chucks approach said loading and unloading station to move said pins radially outwardly for release of a piece of dinnerware, and subsequently effect inward radial movement of said pins to grip a piece of undecorated ware prior to the advancement of said chucks from said station.

8. Apparatus for applying decorative bands to disklike articles of dinnerware comprising a frame, a turret journalled in the frame for rotation about a horizontal axis, a plurality of shafts journalled in the turret and extending radially from the axis thereof, a ware centering and holding chuck mounted on each shaft, motion transmitting means operable to intermittently rotate said turret to advance said chucks successively from a loading and unloading station to a decorating station and thence to the loading and unloading station, each of said chucks including an actuating member jo-urnalled on said shafts respectively, an annular series of ware gripping pins carried by each of said actuating members, means cooperable to yieldingly move said pins toward the axes of said shafts to grip a piece of ware by the rim, means cooperable upon relative rotation of said shafts, and actuating members to move said pins outwardly to release a piece of ware, power means operable to effect rotation of said shafts including a clutch and brake structure, cam means located in proximity to said loading and unloading station and operable just prior to the arrival of each chuck at said loading and unloading station to disengage said clutch and apply the brake to the shaft, and means operable simultaneously with the application of said brake to eiect rotation of said actuating member during advancement of the chuck to said loading and unloading station.

9. A band applying unit for dinnerware decorating machines comprising a base, an arm pivotally mounted on the base, a body attached to the free end of the arm and being formed with a Well adapted to contain a supply of liquid color material, a furnishing roll journalled in the body and having a portion extending into the material in said well, an applicator roll journalled in the body with its periphery in material transfer relation to the periphery of said furnishing roll, power means connected to both of said"frolls:-and' operabletto etect rotation thereof in the same angular direction, a U-shaped doctor` blade positionedfabout theV peripheral edge of the applicator vroll in=spacedrelation thereto-and operable to remove-suipius color material furnished to said, roll-by-said furnishing roll, and means operable externally ofthebody to adjust said doctor blade toward and from the periphery of said applicator` roll.

10. A iining machine for applyingr circular lines to thesurface of circular pieces of chinaware comprising aware supporting member operable` to :rotate a piece of ware about its-axis, a color applicator comprising a body having-'acolor well, a color furnishing ,wheeljournalled inthe body and having aA portion extending into` the welL-'an applicator wheel journalled inthe body, means to-'engage anddisengage the applicator wheel and the surface of the rotating ware, andpower means to drive the applicator wheel at slightly less peripherall speed than the-surface of the ware at a point-of colonapplication, said powertmeans comprising a motor operativelyconnected to said applicator Wheel and having-aA speedllad characteristic of kincreasing speed as the'A load decreases.

ll. AV lining machine for applying circular lines to the surface of circular pieces of chinawarc comprisinga ware supporting member operable to rotate a piece of ware-about its axis, a color applicator comprising a body having a` colorwell, a color furnishing wheel journalled' inthe body and -having a portion extending: into the-well,

an applicator wheel journalled in thebody and` having and power means operable to effect rotation ofA said' wheels inthe same angular direction and to drive the applicator wheel at a slightly less peripheral speed than the surface of the Ware at the point of color application, said power means including a motor having a speed load characteristic of increasing its speed as the load decreases.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,131,606 Von Hofe Sept. 27, 1938 y2,141,630 Westin Dec. 27, 1938 2,203,572 Johnson June 4, 1940 2,380,509 Emerson July 31, 1945 Schweitzer June 26, 195ll 

